This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
It’s been a horrible week. Himself sustained a shoulder injury, and has been in a great deal of pain throughout the week, despite a visit to the doctor and two physio sessions. Looking back, I realised that he has increasingly been unable to fully move his neck for a while but because he wasn’t suffering any pain, I didn’t do anything more about it. I wish I had. He is signed off work until Wednesday but barring a miracle I can’t see him returning. I hate seeing him suffer so much despite heat packs, cold compresses, Voltarol rubs, arnica oil massages, exercises, painkillers and using the trusty TENS machine.
To add to the general fun, that wretched headache I’d suffered last Friday hung around until Wednesday, as welcome as a bad smell, leaving me still exhausted and drained. I’ve missed writing group, the monthly West Sussex Writers’ Club meeting, and had to cancel a one-day Poetry Day I was supposed to be running yesterday.
Last week I read:
The Mortal Word – Book 5 of The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
A corrupt countess. A spy in danger. And an assassin at large.
Peace talks are always tricky . . . especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This murder rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae, so Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate. In a version of 1890s Paris, Irene and her detective friend Vale must track down the killer – before either the peace negotiations or the city go up in flames. Accusations fly thick and fast. Irene soon finds herself in the seedy depths of the Parisian underworld on the trail of a notoriously warlike Fae, the Blood Countess. However, the evidence against the Countess is circumstantial. Could the assassin – or assassins – be closer than anyone suspects?
Cogman manages to successfully evoke the claustrophobic sense of closing timescales as problems multiply when deaths, kidnapping attempts and deadly attacks on the hotel holding the talks all stack up. I love the way we learn a little bit more about both the Fae and the dragon worlds with each book.
The Secret Chapter – Book 6 of The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
As Irene tries to manage a fraught Fae–dragon truce and her overbearing parents, she’s given a hot new mission. The world where she grew up is in danger and only one book can save it. This is held by Mr Nemo, secretive Fae villain and antique dealer, so Irene and Kai travel to his Caribbean retreat to strike a deal. But in return for the book, they must steal a painting from twenty-first-century Vienna. They’ll join a team of dragons, Fae gamblers and thieves, so their greatest challenge may be one another. And some will kill to protect this painting, which hides an extraordinary secret from a past age.
Yet another full-on adventure in this excellent paranormal series. I love the varying settings this portal fantasy provides, with a sympathetic, clever protagonist and wonderful pacing. Review to follow.
My posts last week:
Review of Sweep of the Blade – Book 4 of The Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews
Friday Faceoff featuring Robots and the Empire – Book 4 of the Robot series by Isaac Asimov
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of Body Tourists series by Jane Rogers
*NEW RELEASE SPECIAL* Review of Starship Alchemon by Christopher Hinz
Teaser Tuesday featuring Mantivore Prey – Book 2 of The Arcadian Chronicles by S.J. Higbee
Review of Bright Shards – Book 2 of the Vardeshi Saga by Meg Pechenick
Sunday Post 10th November 2019
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last few weeks, in no particular order:
What happens when a bot writes your blog posts https://thisislitblog.com/2019/11/16/what-happens-when-a-bot-writes-your-blog-posts/ Shruti wondered whether she was replaceable as a blogger – the result is hilarious…
Linguistic Interventions (et tu Bayer?) https://writerunboxed.com/2019/11/15/this-is-not-why-we-scribe-bayer/ How much does the mangling of our language irritate you? Or don’t you care? Porter certainly does…
November 15th, “I Love to Write Day” https://literacyletters.wordpress.com/2019/11/15/november-15th-i-love-to-write-day/ Rae throws out the question – why do YOU love to write? Are you up for answering?
Non-Fiction November: Become an Expert… on Gender! https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/2019/11/11/non-fiction-november-become-the-expert-on-gender/ Hayley has decided to read a series of books on this complicated subject. What a cool way to investigate a tricky issue!
Ways to cope with a character death (and other unfortunate scenes) https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/ways-to-cope-with-a-character-death-and-other-unfortunate-scenes/ Have you ever been traumatised by a character death? Sophia suggests ways of coping…
Thank you for visiting, reading, liking and/or commenting on my blog – I hope you have a wonderful week.
Brainfluff 
I love the way you share little blurbs about clever posts. You seem to find many of these. Thank you for sharing these.
I’m sorry to hear about the health troubles that seem to be hanging around. I hope the shoulder injury and your terrible headache will be resolved soon. Unremitting pain is the worst thing, I think.
I hope you have a good week.
Thank you, Deb – I’m glad you enjoy the posts I share, it makes tracking them down worth it:). And thank you, too, for your kind sympathy. We are both feeling a tad sorry for ourselves right now!
I sure hope you’ll both be feeling much better soon!
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Becky – I hope so too!
Persistent headaches are the worst! I hope both you and himself feel better! ❤️
Thank you, Shruti – we would both like it to stop right now!
So very sorry to hear that ye be under the weather. Pain sucks. Here’s hoping for a better week ahead.
x The Captain
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Cap. I hope it’s a better week, too…
Sounds like you had a stressful week. I hope you both feel better soon.
Thank you, AJ – yes, let’s hope the coming week is a LOT better:)
Oh I am so, so sorry about your week. My daughter often has the combo of you / your husband. The chiropractor and sometimes massage help her a lot and now she was have PT also. I hope this next week is significantly better. I love Genevieve Cogman and I also have the Secret Chapter to read! Enjoy a better week with good books!
Thank you, Anne. The one thing I cannot fault is that care Himself has received. He got a Dr’s appt on the day he rang and when he rang up the physio, he got an appt the following morning first thing, with a repeat appt on Friday. He’s going again on Tuesday.
Ooo… I’m so glad you hear that you also have a copy of The Secret Chapter. It was a relief to have such a lovely series to turn to during rather a miserable time.
I hope you both feel better soon!
Thank you so much, Jennie:).
You’re welcome, Sarah!
I’m sorry neither you or your husband have been well. Im glad to hear you enjoyed the latest of the Invisible Library series
Wishing you a great reading week, and better health!
Thank you, Shelleyrae. Yes, catching up with The Invisible Library series was a great help this week – I sorely needed such well written escapist fun:)
I’m sorry about the shoulder pain! I had a “frozen shoulder” a while back, and what starts out as inability to move turns into horrible pain. Hopefully he will recover soon!
Enjoy your books…I haven’t read either series, but they sound intriguing.
Thank you, Laurel. Yes – it appears that this is a problem that originates in his neck, but the pain has been agonising. I hate seeing him suffer so and being unable to help! Especially as he doesn’t moan or make a fuss.
Yes – the books were a lifeline this week.
Oh boy, that sounds terrible. I hope your husband is on the trail of recovery and feeling better by now. If he is anything like my father, he doesn´t complain about being in pain or saying a word that something is not right. But when my father is sick and under meds it is not easy to deal with him. Wishing you and your husband all the best and that the coming week will be much better.
Thank you, Vi for your kind sympathy. You’re right, he doesn’t make a fuss – just gets on with it. But I just look at his face and know he’s suffering. He isn’t even particularly cranky… I’m really hoping that he will suddenly turn a corner and feel a LOT better.
Oh no- sorry to hear about Himself and you as well. Hope he is able to recover and feel better soon. And also that that wretched headache stays away!
You have new Cogman books I see. I really liked the first one in that series, and clearly I’m a bit behind! I need to get back to those soon.
I hope you have a good new week and that your husband gets some relief. Take care of yourselves!
Thank you for your kind good wishes, Greg:).
And yes – I very much recommend the rest of The Invisible Library series – because it’s a portal fantasy adventure, there are a range of different settings which really rings the changes.
Oh that sounds like a painful week! Hopefully both of you are better this week!
Thank you, Samantha:))
You always link up the best posts. Thank you!
And I hope your head is feeling better now 😟
Thank you for your kind good wishes – still feeling a bit fragile, but at least I’m no longer in pain, which is more than I can say for Himself…
I’m glad you enjoy the links:)). And after saying I don’t generally read old-school sci fi, I noticed you’re reading The Chrysalids – I hope you’re enjoying it as I read it another lifetime ago and it changed me forever…
Ugh, that all sounds awful. I really hope that your hubby is on the mend soon and that those horrible headaches stop bothering you.
Thank you for your kind sympathy, Suzanne.
Hope you’re feeling better soon! A good attitude like yours will surely help the healing process.
Thank you for your kind words, Mike:)
I had a miserable case of shoulder lock about two years ago. Had to go through two weeks of therapy to work it out. There I was, a veteran weightlifter, unable to raise my left arm. Any attempt to raise it past a certain point felt like it was being wrenched out of its socket. No fun!
Thank you, Mike! It sounds like you completely understand exactly what Himself is going through! He is struggling with such pain, right now – averaging about four hours sleep a night…
I’m sorry you and your husband are having such a rough week. I hope your headaches settle soon, and that your husband gets some relief from his shoulder injury.
Thank you, Hayley. I hope so, too…
It saddens me that your week was so very bad, and I hope the one that just started will be kinder to you both!
Thank you, Maddalena – I’m hoping so, too!
wretched headaches and sprained shoulders – what a terrible week. I hope this week goes a lot better and himself’s shoulder improved massively.
Sending hugs.
Take care
Lynn 😀
Thank you, Lynn – hugs and kind good wishes really, really appreciated.xx
Thanks for sending readers my way. You are soooo cool.
You’re very welcome! But I’m not sure ‘cool’ is an apt description just now:))
How about impressive or influential??? LOL
Ooo… tempting!!!
Gosh, Sarah. You’ve both had a rough week. I hope you both find some relief.
I’m so sorry to hear about Himself’s shoulder injury. I’ve spent the last few months battling neck pain so I can feel his pain. I hope he gets better soon! I’m sorry to hear about your headache too. What a rough week you’ve both had! I hope this week is much better for both of you!
Thank you, Katherine! Yes… the physio has established that Himself’s shoulder issues originate in his neck, but it’s taking its own sweet time to improve! I’ve established my headache is probably a combination of stress + insufficient sleep…
Ah, Sarah, I’m so sorry to hear about the headache that wouldn’t go back from whence it came! Hopefully, that’ll be that for a good long while!
I also hope things quickly improve this week with himself’s shoulder! That’s no fun for anyone. You don’t realise how much your shoulder is used until it starts playing up, just about everything jars it…
Fingers crossed for a more pleasant week!
Thank you for your kind understanding, Nicci! Yes… Himself went back to the Dr for more effective pain relief today and tonight, hopefully, he will be able to sleep properly.
What a bummer week. I hope this week was better and am wishing you a GREAT (pain free) weekend! I love the mini-review/blurbs you added this time.
OH! And thanks for mentioning my blog and the post on why we write. I may flesh this out later if the response is good. Thanks again/
Thank you, Rae – yes, it was a rotten week! You’re very welcome – it’s such a fundamental question as writing soaks up SO MUCH time, eating into all my family relationships and my free time… So it’s worth asking it now and then.
Oh no. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband suffering! I have a lot of shoulder, neck, and back pain issues and it is truly debilitating to be in that kind of pain. I hope he starts to feel better soon. Acupuncture has really helped me, FWIW. But it sounds like the TEN machine should be a good stop-gap measure.
Thank you for your kind good wishes, SJ. He is beginning to get more mobility in his neck, but is on 3 types of painkiller right now…
Oh, hugs, Dear Friend. I mean, I’m hoping things are better at this point, but hearing of your life like this just makes me wish I could take a trip in time and space to help you! xxxxx
Oh… bless you! It’s friends like you that make blogging so important.x
YES! I was talking to Bo about that. As much as I love writing stories, it’s the blogging that keeps me sane 🙂
I know what you mean… But it’s so difficult to keep up with folks, isn’t it?
It really is! I always feel perpetually behind. 😦
I almost don’t want to comment on this one, to not remind you of that dreadful week. I can only hope to learn from the next posts that Himself recovered quickly.
It wasn’t a quick recovery, but I’m delighted to report that now (in 2021) there hasn’t been a return to that particular health issue and he know to have a go at the exercises if he starts to lose mobility:)). As for me, since I gave up my teaching post, those headaches have eased up noticeably, so I think it was a consequence of trying to do too much…